Rail-joint plate



' Nov. 23,1926.

o. c. FANSLER RAIL JOINT PLATE Original l d August .12 1925 Reissued Nov. 23 1926.

UNITED STATES PA K Re. 16,481 TENT OFFICE.

OLIVER C. FANSLER, GASSAWAY, WEST VIRGINIA.

g RAIL-301m: PLATE.

Original No. 1,567,583, dated December 29, 1925, Serial No. 49,800, filed August n, 1925.

reissue filed September 3,

This invention relates to rail joints for railroad tracks and has reference to a base plate which may be positioned across two ties so as'to support the abutting ends of, the rails as well' as the angle bars which unite them.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction of a base plate which may be positioned so as to give a slight elevation-to the rail, when used on curves, withobj ect of the invention consists.

vide a base plate which is interchangeable,v

that is to say, one which may be employed in conjunction with rails of varying sizes such as pound rails, pound rails,'etc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l'is a perspective view of the rail joint. I Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base plate per se, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base plate from a different angle.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the numeral 1 indicates the rails which are united by the rail joint about to be described, and Qrefers to the usual cross-ties.

The essential feature of the Present invention resides in the provision of the novel base plate which is indicated generally by the numeral 3. This plate is intended for use with rails of all standard sizes and to this end is provided with the specially arranged spike holes 4 which allow for the varying widths of the rail bases. Arranged adjacent the oppositeedge of the base plate is an overhanging-flange or abutment 5 which is-adapted to en'gage'the outer angle bar 6 of the rail joint so as toprev ent either tilting or spreading of the rails. This edge of the base plate is also-providedwith spike holes 7 for securing the same to the ties.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that cross-ties rot much more ,quickly Application ior 1926. Serial No. 133,497.

when partly cutaway in the manner usually followed where curves are under construction or repair. Under thesecircumstances the ties are usually cutaway somewhat to give a tilt to the rail in the proper direction; this permits the ties to hold water at these points and causes a rapid deterioration of the ties. To avoid this objection I have provided the base plate 1 with the two bevels or inclined surfaces 8 at each end thereof for receiving the two ties by which the rail joint is supported. Obviousl /this. construction will give the necessary inclination to the base plate without any mutilation. whatever to the surface of the tie. It should be noted that these inclined surfaces donot extend entirely across the base plate but on the contrary they terminate at a substantial distance from the thicker edge of the plate, this plain portion of the plate thus acting as-a bearing and preventing the plate'from cutting into the upper surface of the tie.

From, the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be apparent that I have devised a novel form of base plate for rail joints which may be employed at curves without necessitating'the mutilation of the cross-ties, and one which may be employed with varying sizes of'rails. v r

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I now believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, but I do not wish to be understood thereby as limiting myself or the scope of the invention, as

many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; all such I aim to include in the scope of the appended claims. a

What I claim as new and desire to secure by, Letters Patent is z 1. A support for rails including a base plate, said base plate adapted to'span the ties, the portion of the base plate resting on the ties being beveled to give an inclined surface to said plate, and the portion of the base plate between the ties functioning as a spacer member. 2. A support for rails including a base plate having beveled under. surfaces adapted to rest on ties, and having a central portion of uniform thickness between the ties.

3AA support for rails including a base plate, said base plate adapted to span the whichare adapted to rest on the ties, an

overhanging flange on the top of said plate adjacent-one ed e thereof and said base plate having a p urality of spike holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spike holes being arranged at different distances from the edge of said base plate.

4. A rail joint including a base plate, said base plate adapted to span the ties, the portion of the base plate resting on the ties being'beveled to give an inclined surface to said plate, the portion of the base plate between the ties functioning as a spacer mmher, an overhanging flange on the top of said base plate adjacent one, edge thereof, an angle bar connectin the rails and having a portion thereof a apted to fit under said overhanging flange, said base plate having a plurality of spike holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spike holes being arranged at different distances from the edge of said base plate, whereby the rail joint is adapted to diiferent sized rails.

-5. In a support or rail joints, including a base plate adapted to span the ties, the portion of the base plate between the ties having greater thickness than the portions resting on the ties, and shoulders formed by said thickened portion whereby said thickened portion also functions as a spacer member, a single flange 0n the to of the base plate adjacent one side thereo whereby the rail joint plate is rendered interchangeable with different size rails, said flange adapted to abut the edge of a conventional angle bar.

6. A support for rail joint including a base plate adapted to span the ties, the portion of the base plate between the ties being thickened and functioning as a spacer member, a flange on the top of said plate adjacent one edge thereof adapted to abut the edge of a conventional angle bar and said base plate having a plurallty of spike holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spike holes being arranged at different distances from 'the edge of said base plate.

7. A support for rails including a base plate adapted to span the ties, the portions of the base plate resting'on the ties having less thickness than the portion which spans the ties, whereby downwardly extending shoulders are formed, an overhanging flange on the top of said base plate adjacent one ed e thereof, an angle bar connecting adapted to fit under said overhanging flan c, said base plate having aplurality of spl e holes adjacent the other edge thereof, said spike holes being arranged at different distances from the edge of the said base plate, whereby the rail joint is adapted to different sized rails."

I OLIVER C. FANSLER.

the rails and having a portion thereof 

